Austinist: Adios El Gringo, Ciao Stortini!

guest

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 00:57:58 -0600

So 3 friends and I went by Stortini tonight, and unanimously agreed: it sucks. No one was pleased with the food. The recommended beet appetizer tasted like canned beets put into a bowl. The Rigatoni with Rabbit (Rabbitoni?) was decent, but overly salty. The Blueberry Crostada(?) was bland. The caeser salad seemed to be covered in a dressing of lemons and anchovies, and was also salty. The one shining star was the Crustini appetizer, which was good. As for the atmosphere, rather dark. Maybe a few more sconces in strategic points to help make the menus readable. The tables felt, and looked, like junior high cafeteria table tops cut to fit restaurant legs. Perhaps it was just where we were seated inside, but the volume we had to use to be heard across the table seemed excessive. The pair next to us was in kissing distance just so they could hear each other. The service was good in general, and almost overly attentive on the drink side of the house. I think we got water refilled after two sips were taken from anyone's glass. They did mention this was a 'soft' opening and they were still working out the kinks before the grand opening in September. If I hear a lot of positive reviews from people, I might consider trying again, but I can't recommend the place right now.

guest

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 21:59:23 -0600

I am an austinite not an austinist; What does an austinite mean? well first of all I was born and raised here, second I have been to, experienced, and miss the places that define the city of austin as we know it today, third I have experienced other cultures and food to appreciate 'real food'(i.e. culinary degree, food science degree, etc...). So what does this make me?... A cultured person who knows their environment and can appreciate what is good or bad. As for El Gringo..... It is no longer around, need I say more. For the new, and soon to become many eateries to replace this restaurant's shell, I tell you this.... it is not great enough to be cherished, nor good enough to be remembered, ...... it is only bad enough to be forgotten.

guest

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 22:52:44 -0600

i am glad there's now a restaurant offering something other than tex-mex/"southwestern" fare (you're guilty of this, too, eastside cafe, with your enchilada-y offerings). but what is up with that unmemorable name, "stortini" sounds like the name of a bar cart at ikea.

zoo

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 13:03:57 -0600

seriously, what is up with all the hate on spoon?!?! if you don't like spoon, i hate you and we will never be friends. that is all.

guest

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 03:35:03 -0600

I just ate at Stortini and I have to say it was quite marginal. The white bean and sausage soup was tasty but the rest of the menu was boring and bland. I had a panini and the bread was soggy and way too toasted. I'm not a stickler for food but this stuff was bad, stay away.

guest

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 16:48:19 -0600

GBTS That wouldn't stand for "Go Buy The Spoon" now would it?

Ursel

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 02:21:55 -0600

can't we all just agree that Spoon sucks......great...now GBTS

antneon

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 23:48:07 -0600

Hi. I'm the first commenter. I want to apologize to Austinist Ami for being so incredibly harsh. Ami, if you're really not the person who wrote those over-the-top El Gringo posts then please understand that I am sorry. Your review of this Italian place is well written and doesn't read like an advertisement. (I just re-read it and ignored the positive El Gringo bits). El Gringo has been pushed on this website so much and when I saw a great review of the place that replaced it I jumped to conclusions. If there's a way for me to delete my original comment I will. Just let me know. Sorry about the trouble.

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 22:30:07 -0600

Nerds.

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 21:34:05 -0600

Hi, it's me, #7 again. Thanks for making your fine points, #11. (Hey 7-11!) Fer the record, I don't want anyone to join my or any specific lifestyle. I like that some of my favorite places are often uncrowded. But I do think you inferred a lot more than I was trying to say. And, believe it or not, I put a pretty high value on free speech, regardless of message. Your only oversight was when you said your preferred #1's rant. In actuality, it is the only true 'rant' in this stream. And, as rants go, it's pretty poor. Especially the part where s/he told Ami to stop posting, when, a.) that's just mean, and b.)...duuuh, you yourself wrote: "Part of the fun of living in Austin is being able to loudly speak your mind." I agree, and that includes Ami, whoever she is, even when #1 disagrees with her epicurean beliefs. (And I'm not a Neo-anything. All these dismal eateries are literally around the corner from me)

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:52:09 -0600

I care that you don't care.

the sweetish chef

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:00:32 -0600

i don't care.

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:39:23 -0600

I care that everyone cares. Can't everyone just not care?

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:36:47 -0600

#28 I don't care to answer that question.

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:26:04 -0600

#27 Why do you care?

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:01:54 -0600

Who gives a fuck about what you like and what you don't like? And you shouldn't care about what other people like or don't like. This city used to be a place where no one cared about anything and everyone was cool with that. What happenend?

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 13:06:54 -0600

El Chile stole my new 10 speed that my grandma gave me for my birthday and now they won't give it back. Spoon rocks. THAT is all. URYSVEJJDGVA

Elizabeth S.

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:58:40 -0600

#22 - That Dairy Queen makes excellent Blizzards. Plus, I do believe that "Friday Night Lights" uses it as a filming location.

Ursel

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:30:48 -0600

El Chile has great fish taco and wonderful mole enchiladas. Spoon sucks. That is all. GBTW

the sweetish chef

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:28:02 -0600

three words for all you people: TASTE BUDS VARY

ConanTheLibrarian

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:34:39 -0600

1) Don't take it personally Ami. Remember this week's rerun of "South Park" with "he who has no life" as the arch-enemy. 2)#13 & #15 are in the know. Hoover's is damn fine food, despite their jerk chicken being a tad on the mild side. Eastside Cafe has been provided great food and great service before most of the commentators were gleams in their father's eys. A quick Google search of "Resturants on Manor Road Austin" turns up VIVO Cocina Mexicana, Mi Madre's, Alayna's Taqueria, John Muller Bar B Que, and for those not afraid ("I see Black and Brown people!") to venture too far out of Hipsville, into real East Austin, a Dairy Queen.

austinistami

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:02:14 -0600

i'm not connected to el gringo, i AM el gringo! no, not really. for what it's worth, i don't know anyone who owns, works at, or is otherwise a part of any of the restaurants on manor road. i have never written about el gringo and i only ate there once. and i thought it was just okay.

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 10:57:05 -0600

I care what you think 17.

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 10:52:09 -0600

i'm not sure you can really take a food reviewer seriously whose photo is posted for all to see. There's a reason dale rice doesn't have an actual photo of himself on the statesman.

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 10:44:11 -0600

With all the social incest in this town, hard to trust the reviews of most any Austin publication. Reviewers can and should express their opinions, but in the interest of full disclosure, it would given them much more weight to know whether they have any connection direct or otherwise to what they are reviewing.

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 10:41:58 -0600

i think those most displeased with the posts are also most aware that this place doesn't provide journalism. hopefully, others realize that when they come here. i think, after reading some of the comments read about the mohawk show, that it isn't so much that the focus is on 3 venues, 3 djs, 3 restaurants (although there may be a level of buddy-buddy there), as they may just not be aware of what's good/out there. of course, there is some level of value to the weekly ist or these posts, otherwise i wouldn't come here to see what's up. however, if this place is run by people who are into events that recommend the same stuff, populated by the same sheepish crowd, i think that says more about limited exposure to what's out there...and in my snooty view, having good taste. it's the blind leading the (struggling) hip. but who cares what i think...

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 10:41:40 -0600

#13, just don't eat at those restaurants. I know I don't. I haven't been to el Chilitgrintogo since it was the Manor Rd. Coffee House and it hasn't killed me to not go there. Just eat at Eastside Cafe and Hoovers and support the local businesses you enjoy. The other ones, if they're bad enough and it sounds like they are, will all fall down eventually.

Elizabeth S.

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 10:32:58 -0600

#13 - http://austinist.com/2006/02/08/we_heart_hoovers.php It's from 2006, but still.

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 10:27:33 -0600

#7 The "friend hookup" may be a great deal but I don't think anyone wants to read reviews that have been tainted by a self-congratulatory circle jerk. Also, whether you like it or not, Austinist.com cannot be considered modest anymore, which isn't a bad thing considering the scope of categories it tackles.

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 10:19:26 -0600

el gringo was average, some of their dishes were out right awful, and the portions were so small and overpriced. the last thing manor needs is another overpriced restuarant with average food and high prices. i wish the el chile people didnt have such a monopoly on that street, manor could use another good eatery that isnt expensive and "hip". its a shame this site doesnt promote quality restuarants with good food and good portions like hoovers, instead of sticking to the places where the most skinny jeans are found

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 10:13:43 -0600

Here, here #9! I agree that without real criticism of our art and our food that we’ll fail to raise the bar and to become a truly exceptional or innovative city.

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 09:59:37 -0600

Hi Seventh Commenter! I liked the rant of first commenter. It was so much more passionate and therefore interesting than your defensive view of the Holiest of Holys AUSTIN LIFESTYLE. Part of the fun of living in Austin is being able to loudly speak your mind, no matter how lunitic or off your experiences may be to others. Just like part of the frustration of living in Austin is listening to old people bitch about how much better things were way back when, disagreeing with those who think everyone else is living their experience and having to deal with people that think just because they got here first, they KNOW more than anyone else.

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 09:50:42 -0600

HEY NEO_AUSTINITES: Have fun eating shitty food at any or all of these trend-of-the-moment restaurants. The real Austinites know where it's truly at.

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 09:37:32 -0600

austinist_ami is not phantom_critic. The friend hookup thing is pretty true. I'm not so sure its such a good thing (especially when it comes to reviews). If you come from a more metropolitan place where standards are often higher, experiencing the buzz about austin can be a let down. There's a lot of good, but a lot of halfassed things that could be better...that goes for everything from financial support for the arts to music to food establishments... and for the record, ive never been really impressed with el chile's food or el gringo. i like el chilito, but i don't expect much from a $1.75 taco.

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 09:25:13 -0600

But yeah, maybe you could show of picture of pasta less than 9 hours old if you want people to be gastro-disposed before they read the review. Or whatev.

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 09:17:19 -0600

Hi first commenter. I think you might be taking this all a little too seriously. Besides, the Austinist's official sponsor is obviously the Mohawk. Most of the 'ist is non-serious. It's okay. I also thought El Gringo was TERRIBLE, truly the worst of the three or four Manor Road dellionaire misadventures. Obviously, I think they're all bad, with El Chile being by far the least unpalatable and only occasionally fun, if you luck out and get one of the better servers. But I can feel this way and still like Ami's reviews, and not get all hostile. It's not like she gave you bad investment advice. If anyone's sucking the fun out of what is just a light review, it's you. And furthermore, if you're not familiar with the city of Austin, let me explain: the institution of the semi-nepotist 'friend hookup'-- ranging from a free beer at a bar where your friend works, to being let into a show without having to pay cover, to a friendly review on a modest news blog-- is a small but not negligible engine within the service economy, and one reason the Austin lifestyle can be so sweet, allowing service industry and the like to occasionally live slightly beyond their means.

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 09:07:43 -0600

I agree that the calamari is lovely. But the pasta? Fair to middling. However, I didn't have any of the above dishes, so I'll try one out next time. The most startling thing about the meal was the caesar salad--the croutons were massive, incredibly hard, and damn near broke one of my teeth.

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 08:44:20 -0600

I guess El Gringo was so good it had to close. I'm not sure what the fascination is/was with their eateries, seems to me more to do with the trendy HDB scene than it does actual food.

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 08:32:25 -0600

Am I the only one who thinks the dried up pasta photo is incredibly unappetizing?

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 08:10:28 -0600

Wow. It's like it was some sort of review where she shared her opinion and experiences in detail. If I had a nickel for every time a food reviewer had a differing opinion than my own I'd be a rich person.

guest

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 07:45:52 -0600

I've got conflicting feelings about Stortini. While the food was alright, it wasn't better than El Gringo. We loved El Gringo solely for its food, as many of you know the service was abhorrent. It actually got to the point where we anticipated being treated as if we were imposing on some back stage party. Stortini (good luck remembering that) presented essentially the same problem. The servers were a bit more attentive but unfriendly and uninterested. The menu was non descriptive and done in minuscule font. Yes the food was pretty good, but honestly, couldn't they have just fired the mangers with the staff (explains the reoccurring poor treatment) and re-vamped the team? Oh, and the decor was v. subdued Liberace; much more ridiculous than before, but without the cheeky aspect.

antneon

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 07:15:17 -0600

HOW CAN THIS BE TRUSTED?!?!?! Austinist pushed El Gringo in at least 2 separate articles when El Gringo was one of the WORST restaurants in town. Now this restaurant takes the place of El Gringo, and the whole article reads like a huge advertisement. You describe every dish in detail and end with a line that you don't know when it's open? I hope you don't think your readers are that stupid. We can tell that "Austinist Ami" is the same "Phantom Critic" who wrote about this restaurant with is was the disaster called "El Gringo." Please, whomever you are, stop posting on Austinst. You're ruining the credibility and fun of Austinist. I'm happy you have friends that run this restaurant (or maybe you're the one who runs it!), but I like to think that website isn't a free advertisement space for friend's business.